The case
A German Shepherd male, well built and stout, belongs to a farmer from Durrenbach. Since two days he could not pass stool. He tries, pushes and pushes but doesn’t produce anything more than a few liquid and mucous drops. He has completely lost his appetite and has vomited some white foamy stuff. His thirst stays normal.
Anamnesis
The dog’s behaviour is normal. He quietly let’s me examine him. At home he is a gentle guard dog. Every two or three steps he crouches down with tenesmus, sometimes even moaning, but without the least result. The palpation of the abdomen reveals a hard foreign body behind the last rib. The liver is swollen and senstive to touch.
Diagnosis
The intestinal occlusion seems obvious. The day before the dog had eaten the carcass of a rabbit.
What can we do?
Two solutions seem possible, surgery or euthanasia. I am not really prepared for surgery. Should I send the dog to a colleague? This would be expensive. The farmer is not very rich, but loves his dog and is willing to pay.
Homeopathy could bring another issue! But there are some conditions. A careful daily survey of the dog’s health condition, if we don’t want to operate too late. Then we should try and increase the intestinal secretions and get rid of the intestinal paresis.
Treatment and follow up
Alumina 5 CH, 2 granules every 2 hours alternating with Opium 5 CH 2 granules every 2 hours. Let the dog drink enough, observe him carefully and phone me twice a day.
On that day, nothing. The morning after, still no result. The third day I went to see the dog. He is slightly dehydrated, but still really lively. The foreign body travelled and lies now much higher. I can feel it directly before the pelvis. One can still observe tenesmus and there is now a slight rectal prolapsus.
With my left hand I push the foreign stuff towards the rear issue and can feel it with my right index. A forceps, a few minutes and the dog tries to fertilize the tiled floor of the room whilst I look at a bony agglomerate.
Six months later I come to the farm to look after a sick cow, and I see the dog. As soon as he sees me he hides himself in his kennel, but comes out barking angrily as soon as I leave the yard.
Discussion
I must admit that I worried those three days and was really happy when the dog’s rear issue was freed again.
